Monsters, Heroes, and Zombie Princesses: The Best of Comic-Con’s Costumes

Each summer, thousands of fanboys and girls test their devotion to cosplay by strapping on fur suits, applying full-body makeup, and wearing heavy gladiator armor—blazing July heat and sticky crowds be damned—in the name of Comic-Con. Here, some of the most elaborately dressed attendees that we spotted on the streets of San Diego and on the convention-center floor so far.

Monsters, Heroes, and Zombie Princesses: The Best of Comic-Con’s Costumes

Frankie Stein

Real name: Ashley

Age: 28

Origin: Toronto, Canada

Last year, the Ryerson University graduate attended Comic-Con to interview fans for her thesis on cosplay. This year, the Canada native came as a fan herself, putting her fashion-theory degree to use by constructing a detailed costume of Frankie Stein, the 15-year-old daughter of Frankenstein from Mattel’s Monster High doll collection and a character in the upcoming film from Universal. Altogether, Ashley says, the look took about 100 hours to achieve, including the three hours she spent applying green makeup and prosthetic stitches in her hot hotel room.

Spartacus

Real name: Michael

__Age:__36

Origin: Sydney, Australia

An I.T. technician by day in Sydney, first-time Comic-Con-er Michael says that he keeps his personal interests, like cosplaying, private thanks to dual Facebook accounts. “I have two profiles. I specifically keep my main one low-key for professional reasons. And then one for this kind of stuff.” His costume, which took several months to put together and was used for last year’s Supernova convention in Sydney, is inspired by Andy Whitfield’s title character in the short-lived Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Zombie Snow White, Zombie Rapunzel, and Zombie Cinderella

Real names: Haley, Andrea, and Danny

Origin: San Diego, California

Inspired by the new animation book Once Upon a Zombie, the trio of zombie fairytale princesses could not walk five feet in downtown San Diego without a passerby requesting a photo of or with the threesome. “I feel like I’m on a runway,” Haley tells us. “Everyone wants to take a picture with you. We love it.” Danny, who has never experienced Comic-Con before, likens it to another raucous celebration: “It’s kind of like New Orleans during Mardi Gras. It’s crazy, everyone’s in a costume, but I love it so far.”

Frankie Stein

Real name: Ashley

Age: 28

Origin: Toronto, Canada

Last year, the Ryerson University graduate attended Comic-Con to interview fans for her thesis on cosplay. This year, the Canada native came as a fan herself, putting her fashion-theory degree to use by constructing a detailed costume of Frankie Stein, the 15-year-old daughter of Frankenstein from Mattel’s Monster High doll collection and a character in the upcoming film from Universal. Altogether, Ashley says, the look took about 100 hours to achieve, including the three hours she spent applying green makeup and prosthetic stitches in her hot hotel room.

Spartacus

Real name: Michael

__Age:__36

Origin: Sydney, Australia

An I.T. technician by day in Sydney, first-time Comic-Con-er Michael says that he keeps his personal interests, like cosplaying, private thanks to dual Facebook accounts. “I have two profiles. I specifically keep my main one low-key for professional reasons. And then one for this kind of stuff.” His costume, which took several months to put together and was used for last year’s Supernova convention in Sydney, is inspired by Andy Whitfield’s title character in the short-lived Starz series Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Zombie Snow White, Zombie Rapunzel, and Zombie Cinderella

Real names: Haley, Andrea, and Danny

Origin: San Diego, California

Inspired by the new animation book Once Upon a Zombie, the trio of zombie fairytale princesses could not walk five feet in downtown San Diego without a passerby requesting a photo of or with the threesome. “I feel like I’m on a runway,” Haley tells us. “Everyone wants to take a picture with you. We love it.” Danny, who has never experienced Comic-Con before, likens it to another raucous celebration: “It’s kind of like New Orleans during Mardi Gras. It’s crazy, everyone’s in a costume, but I love it so far.”